Parallel payroll support & payroll cutover services
We help HR, Payroll and Finance teams run safe, well documented parallel payroll cycles before go live so employees are paid right and leadership gains full confidence.
- End to end parallel payroll support for UK payroll
- Cutover planning Major UK focused HRIS Platforms
- Detailed variance analysis and issue triage
- Dry runs across multiple periods and entities
- Reconciliation to legacy payroll and finance
- Go live readiness and post go live monitoring
Book a payroll review
Share your target go live date and system and we will map the parallel runs.
Parallel payroll support that protects your go live
Parallel Payroll Planning & Scope
We start by defining what a successful parallel payroll looks like for your organisation. We review employee volumes, pay cycles, allowances, statutory elements, pensions, benefits and any UK specific rules that must be tested. We align with your implementation partner or vendor so everyone knows what data is needed and when. This removes guesswork.
Then we create a parallel payroll support plan that shows number of runs, sequence, data sources, test employees, and acceptance criteria. This plan is realistic for teams who still have to run BAU payroll. It also covers cross platform cases when you are moving to ADP, HiBob, Rippling, Oracle or iTrent.
Dry Runs & Test Cycle Coordination
Dry runs are key to building confidence before real payroll is processed. We coordinate dry runs across HR, payroll and IT, making sure the right cut of employee data is used and that new processes are followed. We document each run, what worked and what did not, so you can show progress to sponsors.
During these runs we pay attention to data quality issues, timing of approvals, interface availability and local country variations if you have them. This is where we fix practical issues such as late starters, multiple contracts, terminations and retro changes. By the final dry run you have a stable, repeatable process.
Variance Analysis & Issue Resolution
Running two payrolls in parallel is only useful if variances are identified and resolved. We perform detailed variance analysis between the legacy payroll output and the new payroll output. We look at gross to net, employer costs, tax, NI, pension, overtime, bonuses and one off payments. We classify variances into configuration issues, data issues, process issues and timing issues.
Once the source is known we work with your payroll vendor or configuration team to fix it. We retest the affected employees in the next parallel run. This iterative approach removes surprises at go live and gives Finance the audit trail they need.
Cutover Plan & Readiness
Go live hinges on timing and roles. We design a cutover plan that defines blaaPayroll cutover has many moving parts. We build a cutover calendar that shows when the last run on the old system happens, when the data is frozen, when the opening balances are loaded to the new system, and when the first live payroll will run. This helps HR, payroll and IT to prepare communications and avoid late changes.
We also define how to handle changes during the freeze period. For example, how to capture a late new joiner or adjustment without risking the go live. This brings discipline and avoids missed pay.ckout windows, freeze points, handoffs, and rollbacks. We script tasks by hour, set checkpoints, and confirm signers. The cutover plan aligns data mapping, validation results, and environment readiness so your HR data migration completes on schedule and the new HR system is stable from day one.
Post Go Live Stabilisation and Reconciliation
After go live, payroll needs extra attention. We stay with you for a stabilisation period to monitor first runs, run additional reconciliations, and help your team use the new reports. We compare actual paid values with expected values and check GL postings. We also fine tune alerts and exception reports.
This stabilisation support is especially valuable for PE backed or multi entity UK organisations where reporting to group Finance is strict. It proves the move to the new payroll platform was controlled and reversible if needed.
Make payroll go live safe
Tell us your current and target payroll systems and we will send a parallel run and cutover template.
Talk to us
Discovery and parallel run design
We gather details of your current payroll, target system, pay groups, pay frequencies and statutory rules. Then we design the parallel payroll support plan, including number of dry runs, variance analysis method and reconciliation format. We align it with your payroll cutover date so BAU is not disrupted.
What We Offer: - End to end parallel payroll plan
- Test employee selection and data templates
- Variance analysis and issue log format
- Cutover calendar and freeze guidance
- Alignment with HRIS, payroll and Finance teams
Schedule a discovery
Execution, variance and cutover support
We coordinate the actual parallel payroll runs, capture outputs from both systems, and perform variance analysis. We work with your HRIS or payroll vendor to fix issues quickly. Then we support the payroll cutover itself and stay on for first live runs and reconciliations so confidence stays high.
What We Offer: - Run management for each parallel payroll cycle
- Variance analysis for gross to net and employer costs
- Dry run issue resolution with vendors
- Go live day support and exception handling
- Post go live reconciliation and reporting
Talk to payroll team
Our Process
Scope runs
Define number of parallel runs, entities, pay groups and acceptance criteria.
Test cycles
Execute dry runs, capture outputs and document issues across HR, payroll and Finance.
Fix variances
Resolve configuration, data and timing differences and retest affected employees.
Cutover live
Freeze, switch to target payroll, reconcile first live run and handover.
Why choose Us?
We understand UK payroll in real organisations, and we work across ADP, HiBob, Rippling, Oracle, iTrent and other HRIS platforms. Our strength is process and clarity, so your team always knows what happens next.
UK expertise
Built for UK payroll rules, HMRC needs and multi entity setups.
Platform agnostic
We support ADP, HiBob, Rippling, Oracle, iTrent and mixed estates.
Finance friendly
Reconciliations and reports that Finance can trust and audit.
Delivery focused
Clear plan, issue log, templates and on the day support.
Frequently asked questions
About our parallel payroll support services
What is parallel payroll support?
Parallel payroll support is when we run payroll in both the old and new system for a period of time and compare the results. It confirms that configuration, data and processes in the new system are correct before payroll cutover.
Why is payroll cutover risky?
Payroll cutover is risky because employees must be paid on time and correctly, and Finance must receive accurate postings. Without parallel runs, variance analysis, dry runs and reconciliation, errors can reach employees and damage trust.
How many parallel runs do we need?
It depends on your complexity. Most UK organisations do 2 to 3 parallel payroll runs covering different pay groups and scenarios. Larger or multi entity payrolls may need 4 or more to cover seasonal or variable pay.
Do you support ADP, HiBob, Rippling, Oracle and iTrent payroll cutovers?
Yes. We are platform agnostic. We know how these systems handle payroll data, cutover balances and reporting, and we coordinate with vendors where required.
What is variance analysis in parallel payroll?
Variance analysis is the process of comparing old and new payroll outputs line by line. We identify differences in pay, tax, NI, pension, benefits or GL amounts, then classify and fix them before go live.
Can we do parallel payroll if our team is small?
Yes. Our approach is built for small HR and payroll teams. We provide templates, issue logs and runbooks so your staff can execute each parallel run without confusion.
Do you help with reconciliation to Finance and GL?
Yes. Reconciliation is a core part of our payroll cutover service. We make sure payroll totals, cost centres and postings match what Finance expects.
How long does a parallel payroll support engagement last?
A typical engagement runs through discovery plus 2 to 3 parallel runs and first live payroll. That can be 4 to 8 weeks depending on your pay cycle.
What happens if we find issues late?
We log and prioritise them. Critical issues are fixed before cutover. Non critical issues are documented for post go live fixes so the go live date is protected.
How do you ensure privacy and security?
Can you train our payroll team on the new HRIS payroll?
Yes. We train teams on new processes, variance analysis, report extraction and what to watch in the first months.
Do you support international payroll parallel runs?
We can support multi country situations but the framework is UK first. We align with local vendors or in country partners if needed.
Got more questions?
Feel free to reach out to us for more details & also get a free consulting session with our experts.
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